Who Wouldn’t Want 47 Cats? And Why We Should Find Joy Now.

Hi friends!

Let's talk about life for a moment. It's normal for us to think about the future and what we want it to look like. We want to have that degree; we want to be an astronaut; we want a 3-story tree house with 47 cats.

It’s not hard to start taking steps to make it happen: plan out the classes we need to graduate; start saving money for a space suit and freeze-dried delicacies; find the perfect tree and steal a pregnant cat from the shelter.

But sometimes, it feels like all we are doing is living for the future. We plan and set goals and take actions needed to reach these goals, but how are we living now? I recently realized that while I was trying so hard to plan out my future and ensure its success, I was finding little joy in the present moment. It felt like I was anxiously biding my time until I could implement the next part of my grand plan. I found myself feeling defeated and unenthusiastic about life.

It’s not wrong to work hard to accomplish goals, but God created us to delight in Him every day. He wants us to find joy in Him all the time.

So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

— Psalm 32:11

God was giving me tons of opportunities to see His work and feel alive in His presence but I had stopped paying attention. He was like, “Hey! Check out this sweet flower I’m making!”

“Yo girl, I’m going to make some ladybugs crawl across your arm because I know that will make you smile.”

“You’re WELCOME for putting that chatty, kind lady in front of you at the grocery store because I know you are feeling lonely.” (My introverted friends would think this was more of an act of the devil.)

God gave us ways to feel contentment and be joyful while we are waiting for the bigger things to unfold. We were made with an assortment of interests that, while they may not build our resume, bring us joy when we pursue them. We tend to write these pursuits off as a waste of time, but they aren’t trivial. God didn’t go, “Nooo! I spilled ‘love of art’ onto that guy and he’s supposed to be a lawyer!! He’ll never need that! Ugh- I don’t have time to fix this.”

Loving to paint and draw wasn’t an “oops” moment for God.

Neither was being a crazy cat lady.

Remember that “you are fearfully and wonderfully made” bible verse? *

You are.

What interests have you left by the wayside while pursuing ‘more important things’? What could you spend a few minutes doing today to start filling your heart back up?

Love & cats,

* For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. -Psalm 139:13-14

And if you need a few more encouraging verses

to remind you that you weren't an accident:

The LORD gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” -Jeremiah 1:4-5

What is the price of two sparrows–one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. -Matthew 10:29-31